WHATS GOING ON AT THE CAPITOL?

And they’re off! Literally. Both chambers convened for a week before taking a week off for Presidential inaugural festivities and Martin Luther King, Jr. celebrations. The beginning of each legislative session usually begins at a snail’s pace and ends with an impenetrable log-jam of legislation, leaving legislators collectively scratching their heads wondering where the time went. With 125 days left in the 140-day legislative session, the process is barely beginning.

Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst issued Senate committee assignments late last week with very few surprises because the identity of many committee chairs had been known for some time (see below for a list). The Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee, which hears a large amount of city-related bills, will be chaired by Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D – McAllen). Senators Robert Nichols (R – Jacksonville), Ken Paxton (R – McKinney), and Larry Taylor (R – Friendswood) will also serve on the committee.

A particularly interesting move is the creation of a Senate Finance subcommittee on “state and local revenue matters” to be chaired by Senator Glenn Hegar (R – Katy). The committee will likely consider all finance-related legislation that does not impact the budget. However, the subcommittee’s jurisdiction is still unclear at this time.

The House always lags behind in issuing committee assignments, and this session is no different. With 43 freshmen members and another 24 members with only one session under their belts, the task of assigning committees is more difficult. House committee assignments should be made around the first of February.

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